What Do I Need to Know about Enforcement?

by | Feb 24, 2022 | Custody, Enforcement

Orlando Uncontested Divorce Lawyer AJ Grossman

Sometimes people don’t do what they’re supposed to.

You have a court order and someone is not doing what they are supposed to do and you need help.

This type of situation happens in all aspects of family law from custody, to splitting up your stuff, to spousal support, and child support.

 

CUSTODY PROBLEMS

Custody of minor children is probably the number one source of conflict between divorced parents. Here are some typical examples of enforcement issues related to custody, also known as parenting:

  • repeatedly interfering with the other parent’s visitation
  • failing to encourage a relationship between the other parent and the children
  • exposing children to religious beliefs different from what the parents agreed to in their Marital Settlement Agreement
  • violating a visitation schedule
  • failing to return a child to the other parent
  • parent withholding a child from the other parent
  • intentionally denying visitation to the other parent
  • relocating and changing a child’s school without the other parent’s consent
  • failing to foster a warm and loving relationship between the child and each parent per the Parenting Plan

 

PROBLEMS SPLITTING UP YOUR STUFF

Splitting up your stuff, also known as equitable distribution, is a frequent source of problems after a divorce. The following are some examples:

  • failing to pay a debt
  • failing to execute a deed to transfer property
  • failing to refinance a home or cooperate in the sale of a home
  • failing to give the other spouse personal property, such as furniture
  • failing to remove a former spouse from a vehicle title

 

man's and woman's hands pulling at $100 bill across desk

PROBLEMS WITH ALIMONY

Spousal support is another area of family law where we can see intense conflict between the spouses both before and after a divorce. Most often, the failure to pay spousal support as ordered by a court judge is the problem.

Typically, the other spouse is not paying on time or paying the full amount or not paying at all.

 

PROBLEMS WITH CHILD SUPPORT

Like spousal support, problems with child support most often arise when a parent is not paying the court ordered child support on time or not at all.

 

PROBLEMS WITH PAYING ATTORNEY’S FEES

Sometimes, one spouse agrees or is ordered to pay the attorney’s fees of the other spouse. And even with a court order, that spouse fails to pay.

 

judge's hand banging gavel

WHAT IS CONTEMPT?

It is a refusal to obey any legal order, mandate, or decree made or given by any judge. A court order is a command by the court directed at someone to either do something or refrain from doing something. The order must be clear as to what is required so that the person it is directed to knows what is being required of them.

 

WHEN IS CONTEMPT NOT AN OPTION?

Contempt is not an available option when the problem you want to fix involves a spouse or former spouse and the payment of money, unless the payment of money is for support.

For example, if your former spouse was ordered to pay you $20,000 from the sale of a classic car, contempt is not the appropriate remedy because it involves the payment of money not related to support.

However, if your former spouse was ordered to pay you $1,500 per month in spousal support, contempt is the appropriate remedy because the failure to comply with the court order involves support.

 

DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTEMPT

Direct contempt happens in a courtroom before a judge. Indirect contempt happens outside the courtroom and presence of a judge. Indirect contempt is what most people will be concerned with.

woman grabbing someone's arm in anger

CIVIL CONTEMPT OR CRIMINAL CONTEMPT

The purpose of civil contempt is to remedy or fix a problem by coercing a person into compliance with the court order. Whereas criminal contempt is designed to punish.

 

INDIRECT CIVIL CONTEMPT IN MOST FAMILY LAW CASES

Most contempt actions in family law matters involve indirect civil contempt.

 

WHAT HAPPENS AT A CONTEMPT HEARING FOR SUPPORT?

First, you have to prove that the non-complying spouse had notice of your Motion for Contempt and the subsequent hearing. Then, you must prove that a prior order existed and was entered directing payment of support and that the non-complying spouse failed to pay all or part of the ordered support.

If the non-complying spouse is present for the contempt hearing, the judge must determine if he or she has the present ability to pay the ordered support and willfully failed to pay it. If the non-complying spouse is not present for the hearing, a purge amount will be set and the court may issue a writ of bodily attachment directing the Sheriff to bring the non-complying spouse into custody to be brought before the court.

After hearing all the testimony and evidence, a court judge will enter a written order either granting or denying the motion for contempt.

If the motion for contempt is granted, the court may impose sanctions to obtain compliance with the order including the following:

  • incarceration
  • attorney’s fees
  • suit money and costs
  • fines
  • any other coercive sanction or relief permitted by law

 

empty jail cell

INCARCERATION

If the court orders the non-compliant spouse to be incarcerated, a purge must be available. A purge is simply what the non-compliant spouse has to do to satisfy the court ordered obligation and stay out of jail.

 

WHAT PROOF IS REQUIRED?

The person who filed the motion for contempt must prove that the non-complying person has willfully disobeyed a court order and that he or she has the present ability to comply with the order.

There is a presumption that the non-complying person can comply and it is up to that person to prove that he or she has lost the ability to comply.

 

FAILURE TO PAY INTO CHILD’S COLLEGE FUND

Contempt is a good option to enforce a parent’s payment into a child’s college fund as long as that provision was intended as child support.

However, the payment for child’s college expenses cannot be enforced by contempt where the child is over 18.

 

DECISIONS AND ACTS RELATED TO RELIGION

Our courts will not restrict a parent’s exposure of his or her child to a parent’s religious beliefs unless they can prove that religious activity is harmful to child. Harm to a child from exposure to a certain religion is not shown by telling the court that the child is confused. This is not enough.

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two children wearing backpacks hugging father

CUSTODY EXCHANGES

Here is an example of a familiar problem for some parents after a divorce:

A mother and father had a visitation schedule and were preparing to exchange their children. The exchange failed when the children refused to go with the father and the mother refused to physically force the children to go with the father. Unless the parenting plan is sufficiently explicit for the mother to determine what her obligation was when the children refused, she should not be held in contempt. The reason is because the court order regarding visitation was not clear enough so that the mother knew what she was supposed to do.

 

CAN A COURT MODIFY VISITATION IF PARENT FOUND IN CONTEMPT?

Contempt should not be used as a basis for change of custody. The purpose of contempt is to compel compliance with a court order. Imposing a sanction of changing custody penalizes children and does not coerce compliance.

However, a court judge may modify visitation if:

  1. the person who filed a motion for contempt alleges and proves a substantial change of circumstances; and
  2. the change would be in the best interest of the children; and
  3. sufficient notice of the proposed modification was given to the non-complying person

 

CAN COURTS ENFORCE THEIR OWN ORDERS?

In general, courts keep the power to enforce their own orders and judgments, and any post-judgment actions are really just a continuation of the original matter.  A trial court always has the inherent power to enforce its previously entered orders.

 

Couple sitting on couch turned away from each other 

IS PERSONAL SERVICE REQUIRED TO ENFORCE AN ORDER?

No because the court’s power over the parties has not terminated.

 

ADULT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND VISITATION

A court judge has no power over visitation with a special needs adult child.

 

FORMER SPOUSE OR PARENT IS OUT OF STATE

There must be some basis to give the Florida court judge power over the out-of-state person. This is called “long-arm jurisdiction.” There are very specific rules regarding long-arm jurisdiction that must be followed to give a Florida court power over a non-resident party.

 

DEFENSE AGAINST ENFORCEMENT

Laches – this defense basically argues that someone waited too long in making an assertion or claim.

 

ORDERS FROM OTHER STATES

Florida is required to give “full faith and credit” to all final and non-modifiable judgments of other states that were entered in compliance with the due process rights of all the parties. A court judge will presume that a judgment from another state is valid. If the validity of the judgment is challenged, a Florida court will refer to the laws of the state where the judgment was entered.

 

OTHER WAYS TO ENFORCE FINANCIAL ISSUES

LIENS AGAINST PROPERTY

You can get a lien against real property, such as a home or vacant, by recording a certified judgment in the county where the property is located. A lien is effective for seven (7) years. A certified copy of your judgment can be obtain through the Clerk of Courts office where your case was handled.

ENFORCEMENT OF MEDIATION AGREEMENTS

A mediation agreement is nonbinding and unenforceable regarding child custody and child support issues until a court judge has determined that the agreement is in the best interest of the children and enters an order approving the agreement.

 

Orlando enforcement attorney AJ Grossman

CONTACT A SKILLED, AGGRESSIVE, COMPASSIONATE AND EXPERIENCED ORLANDO FAMILY LAWYER TODAY

Problems after divorce can be difficult. Divorce is the second, most stressful event someone will ever experience. It is important to know how to choose a good divorce lawyer who can help you identify your rights and responsibilities that you might overlook trying to do it yourself. Having an attorney who focuses their practice 100% on family law and divorce is essential because you need a professional who understands everything about divorce. The anger, the fear, the betrayal, and the anxiety about your financial future.

Divorce and divorce-related situations is all we do here at Leap Frog Divorce. We’re ready to help you today, and we have financing options.

Call us today at 407-377-7108 or send us a message. Just let us know what you need help with, and we will contact you quickly!

Arthur J. Grossman J.D., LL.M., Esq

Arthur J. Grossman J.D., LL.M., Esq

AJ Grossman graduated at the top of his Florida law school class, has been trained in Collaborative Divorce, has a Master of Laws degree in Dispute Resolution, and is a Barrister member of the invite-only Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court. His aggressive advocacy on behalf of his clients provides hope and reassurance throughout challenging divorces.

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